Cladribine for multiple sclerosis

Author : Pierre Allain

Date : 2010-1-30

Cladribine is already marketed for the treatment of hairy-cell leukemia. Cladribine induces a myelosuppression with neutropenia, lymphopenia (in particular fall of the CD4 lymphocytes), anemia and thrombocytopenia.

A paper published in the NJEM, January 2010, shows that cladribine, used here by oral route, , in patients with multiple sclerosis, in a placebo-controlled trial, reduced the frequency of the relapses prolonging the free interval between them, slowed down deterioration related to the disease and reduced the aggravation of neurological damage.

The main dverse effects of cladribine were lymphocytopenia and increase of the infections.

Cladribine, like fingolimod, seem to bring a progress in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, at the price of adverse effects to take into account.